News

The13th annual Communiy-Based Heritage Language Schools Conference is coming up in a few days, and it is not too late to register!

Washington, DC and online

October 2-3, 2026

You can review the complete program, learn about this year's plenary speakers, Dr. Sara Lee and Dr. Yong Zhao, and register here. If you are unable to travel in person this year, make use of the virtual option! Our conference will be hybrid, held both on site at American University in Washington, DC and online.

This conference provides a great opportunity to connect wit colleagues in the heritage language field - across languages and across states! Please invite your friends and share the conference Facebook event and LinkedIn event widely!

Conference Sponsors

We are grateful for the generous contributions of the following sponsors! The conference would not have been possible without their support!

The Kazickas Family Foundation (est. 1998) is honored to continue sponsoring the Community-Based Heritage Language Schools conference - this incredible gathering of multilingual minds for the 8^th year in a row. The KFF yearly supports about a hundred organizations in the USA and Europe that empower Lithuania’s current and future generations. By funding the Lithuanian Heritage schools and the Lithuanian Educational Council of the USA (est. 1959) the family honors their matriarch Alexandra Kazickas (1920 – 2011) who cared deeply that young people living abroad maintain their Lithuanian identity. May the conference bring you inspiring collaborations, meaningful networking, and a fruitful exchange of innovative ideas. Your efforts ensure that future generations will know their identity, culture, and ancestral heritage!

The Center for Applied Linguistics is an advocate for heritage language learning because we believe all students’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds are powerful assets. Through our work with partner institutions, we develop resources for heritage language programs and for the educators building and sustaining these programs. In addition, we conduct and disseminate research investigating best practices and recommendations for working with this unique and gifted group of language learners.

The ability to speak another language is a valuable strength. This is true for individuals and for society. At CAL, we are committed to seeing teaching and learning thrive in all languages for learners at every level — from young children to adults. 

Every language community should have access to meaningful recognition. Avant Language offers SuperLanguage assessments in more than 90 less commonly tested languages, giving heritage learners a way to demonstrate their writing and speaking proficiency. Available languages include Albanian, Dari, Gujarati, K’iche’, Malayalam, Tongan, Wolof, and many others. For community-based heritage language schools, these assessments can help recognize the skills students develop through years of learning at home, in school, and within their communities. Results can support pathways to State and Global Seals of Biliteracy, high school graduation, college credit, and career opportunities.

For nearly 25 years, Avant has worked alongside educators and community leaders to expand access to proficiency testing and help more learners receive recognition for the languages they know. Learn more about SuperLanguage testing, and explore The Multiliterate Mind Podcast for conversations on heritage language education and community.

New Spanish Language Representative

We are happy to welcome a new Coalition Language Representative for Spanish, Josue Daniel Cordova, Executive Director of ISLA (Immersion for Spanish Language Acquisition), an organization based in North Carolina dedicated to cultivating Spanish heritage language and cultural learning while advancing education advocacy for the Latine community. We will miss Jennifer de Lima, who has decided to step down and devote her time to Spanish classes for the students and who nominated Josue. Thank you both!

FOHLC Europe Conference

November 4 & 5, 2026

Online

FOHLC Europe conferences have become a well-established space for practitienters to exchange ideas about heritage language teaching and coalition building. Attendees can learn from different approaches being used across Europe and beyond. The FOHLC Europe Conference is bi-annual, free of charge, and takes place online over two days. Expore the program and register now!

This year the focus is on building recognition and professionalization: How can we make sure that students receive recognition for their language skills? What kinds of training do teachers need to feel confident and supported in their work? How do we move towards higher-quality teaching materials? And how can we connect organizations so knowledge and resources can be shared?

SICLE Call for Proposals

The Sydney Institute for Community Languages Education (SICLE) is looking for proposals for presentations in the field of Languages Education, including Community/Heritage Languages and TESOL for the 3rd International Conference for Heritage/Community Languages Education They welcome research-based and practice-tested ideas that foster positive outcomes for students and inspire educators. SICLE is a dynamic and powerful group working with community-based heritage language schools in Australia.

The event will take place online over several mornings and evenings (AEDT) in February-March 2027, and proposals are date by Friday, October 30, 2026. Each presentation should last 30 minutes in total max (either 20 minutes talk with 10 minutes for questions or 25 minutes talk with 5 minutes for questions). For questions or further information, please contact Kati Varela at katiuska.varelabatista@sydney.edu.au.

46th Annual German Language Schools Conference

Many language groups organize an annual meeting for the teachers and administrators of the heritage language schools. One example with a very long history is the German Language School Conference in the United States. This organization will hold their 46th Annual German Language School Conference (GLSC) October 24, 2026 in California to provide their members with meaningul opportunities for connections and professional growth.

Explore the list of umbrella organizations on our website to learn what each language group is doing, and let us know if your language community has a national umbrella org

Facebook Twitter Skype LinkedIn E-mail Print

Newsletter
Sign up for our latest news and programs!

Name:

E-mail:

Telephone:

Videos
Earlier postings

Donate
Your support makes it possible for us to bring you scholarship information, programs, and relevant news!

Partner Institutions
more